ACBL_BASEBALL - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Assistant Professor of Orthopedic Surgery
Dr. Michael C. Schwartz is an Assistant Professor of Orthopedic Surgery in the Division of Sports Medicine at NYU Langone-Long Island. His clinical office is located at the new NYU Langone Ambulatory Care Facility at 1530 Front Street, East Meadow. Dr. Schwartz has provided top-quality sports medicine care to adult and pediatric patients on Long Island and the New York Metro Area for the last 25 years. A graduate of both NYU School of Medicine and NYU Langone's orthopedic residency program, Dr. Schwartz completed a fellowship in sports medicine at Temple University in Philadelphia. He is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon specializing in all facets of pediatric and adult sports injuries and arthroscopic surgery including ACL reconstructions, rotator cuff repairs, labral repairs, and other arthroscopic and open procedures related to the knee, shoulder, elbow, and ankle. He is an expert in minimally invasive techniques pertaining to the restoration and preservation of articular cartilage as well as the biologic treatment of tendon injuries such as platelet-rich plasma and stem cell therapies.
Dr. Schwartz has dedicated his career to the treatment of orthopedic conditions and injuries in professional, collegiate, and amateur athletes of all ages. He has served as the orthopedic team physician for the New York Islanders hockey team, the New York Dragons arena football team, and World Team Tennis. In addition, he has served as the covering orthopedist for multiple sporting events including the US Open Tennis tournament, the Buick Classic Golf Tournament, the annual Empire Challenge High School Football all-star game as well as serving as a ringside physician for several boxing and mixed martial arts matches. For the past decade, he has been a team orthopedist for Hofstra Athletics, providing care for the athletes as well as game coverage for NCAA Division I sporting events and athletic tournaments including NCAA Men's Lacrosse quarterfinals and the NCAA Division 1 Wrestling Championship at Madison Square Garden. During his career, he has treated numerous high school, college, and professional baseball players providing state-of-the-art care. Dr. Schwartz is looking forward to serving in his third year as the medical director for the ACBL.
Job Titles:
- Head Coach, Pace University ( NE10, DII )
Job Titles:
- ACBL Board Member & Treasurer
- President of the Long Island Tigers
Former Minnesota Twin and Montreal Expo Ike Goldstein joined the Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League first as the Owner / Manager of the Nassau Colegians (2021).
Previously, Ike was at SUNY College at Old Westbury baseball program as a volunteer assistant coach in 2011. Goldstein was the Panther's infielder and catchering coach. He arrived at Old Westbury with 25 years of professional, collegiate, and high school coaching experience.
Goldstein was drafted out of NYIT as a junior in the 16th round by the Minnesota Twins. He excelled in the minor leagues before retiring to pursue coaching. Goldstein spent three years with the Twins in their farm system. While catching with the Twins he held club records for most assists by a catcher, throwing out would-be base stealers (RCS%) at a rate of 81 and 83 percent in 1986 and 1987, respectively. He finished his career with the Montreal Expos, playing for Felipe Alou.
Following his retirement from baseball, he made the transition to assist in the development of catchers as the Toronto Blue Jays Catching Instructor for their organization, and Director of the New York Mets Baseball Academy The Long Island native later joined the coaching staff at Molloy College, serving as an Assistant Coach.
Goldstein's career began as an All-Nassau County selection (1983) out of Jericho High School, followed by an All-New York State selection for NYIT (1986).
Currently, Goldstein is also the President of the Long Island Tigers, the nationally recognized high school summer baseball program. Ike and his wife, Elena, with their four children, Brittany, Haley, Jordan, and Hunter reside in Jericho, New York. His son Hunter, notable, attends Pace University (Biology Major). He was a contributing factor leading to the Pace Setters winning the NE10 championship (2023), and being awarded ACBA All-Region East Defensive Catcher and NE10 All-Conference Defensive Catcher.
Since 2012, Ken Davidoff has been one of the brightest lights in the world of sports journalism, serving as the baseball columnist for the NY Post. Before that Ken wrote for Newsday, the Bergen Record and attended the University of Michigan. Known for his crisp, witty style and prolific nature, Ken has served as the president of the New York Baseball Writer's Association and lives in New York City with his wife Sarah and son, JJ.
Mr. Sparacino, ESQ brings a wealth of experience in administrative and operations management, IT, and human resources to support to the ACBL.
Michael worked in senior executive positions and was most recently the Chief Legal and Contracting Officer for an independent practitioner association and management services organization for 800 Primary Care Physicians and 1500 Specialists. Prior thereto, Mr. Sparacino held legal, labor management and operations management positions at a major airline and a well-known museum in Manhattan.
Michael attended St. John's U as a student-athlete (Baseball) under our Division Name-Sake, Jack Kaiser and received is undergraduate degree, Bachelor of Arts, summa cum laude.
He is also a graduate of St. John's Law School, Mr. Sparacino is admitted to the New York Bar.
Job Titles:
- ACBL Board Vice President & Secretary
Pete Raimondi just completed his 17th season as an assistant coach with Pace in 2023. During his time with the Setters, Raimondi has helped Pace reach the NCAA championship twice (2013 and 2023) and win the 2023 NE10 Championship.
Originally, from Queens N.Y., Coach Raimondi played his high school ball at St. Francis Prep (Alma Mater to Vince Lombardi & Joe Torre), in Brooklyn, N.Y. He continued his playing career at Fordham University and played infield. After a short stint at Fordham, Raimondi played and coached Inter-service ball for the United State Marine Corps, until the Iranian hostage situation forced a mandatory alert status. Upon being discharged from the Marine Corps as a Captain, he then played two years in the industrial semi-pro leagues in Shinagawa, and Ebisu, Japan.
Job Titles:
- ACBL Board Member
- Community Consultant for the NY Yankees
- Member of the International Latino Hall of Fame
- Writer, Publishing
Ray's amazing journey began fifty years ago when at 17-years of age, he was caught spraying graffiti on a wall at Yankee Stadium by NY Yankees owner, George Steinbrenner. As fate would have it, Steinbrenner decided against putting Ray in jail and instead, offered him a second chance making him the batboy for the greatest franchise in sports history. Ray was propelled into a dream job sharing the dugout with the "Bronx Zoo" team of the seventies. He became a positive influence in the fiery clubhouse that included Manager Billy Martin, superstar Reggie Jackson and the legendary Thurman Munson. And for the next 37 years, Steinbrenner and Ray built a special relationship until Steinbrenner's passing in 2010.
Steinbrenner's vision lives on through Ray. As a Community Consultant for the NY Yankees, Ray is immersed in ensuring that veteran players and Yankee rookies promote the tradition of the club's pride and inspiration by visiting terminally sick kids in hospitals and supporting the inner-city youth throughout New York. He was the co-founder of "Hank's Yanks", a not for profit competitive youth travel baseball team for underprivileged kids (ages 10-18) founded by the late New York Yankees co-owner Hank Steinbrenner.
Ray is an avid writer, publishing four children's books. His first book, "The Boy of Steel" was #2 on the NY Times Bestseller List, won the International Children's Book of the Year in 2006 and is currently displayed at the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. His second book, "The Greatest Story Never Told: The Babe and Jackie" deals with the difficult subject of racism, teaching kids diversity. His third book, "One Last Time: Goodbye to Yankee Stadium", reached #1 on Amazon's Bestseller List. In 2012, he published his memoirs "Yankee Miracles: Life with the Boss and the Bronx Bombers" (currently in pre production for Broadway) and co-wrote baseballs first children's Christmas book, "CC Clause" with Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia. As a film producer, Ray developed the full-length animated feature film "Henry and Me", about a boy's magical journey as he battles cancer, based on his children's books. Voices for the animation include Richard Gere, Cyndi Lauper, Chazz Palminteri, Danny Aiello, Luis Guzman and Paul Simon. Ray is also the Associate Producer and co-stars in the film "Bottom of the 9th" starring Sofia Vergara and Joe Manganiello. Ray makes cameo appearances in the the film "Out of Order" staring Luis Guzman and Brooke Shields and also the series "Gravesend"
A documentary depicting Ray's life is currently in production.
Ray is a member of the International Latino Hall of Fame, the Hispanic Heritage Baseball Hall of Fame and the Ted Williams Hall of Fame for his humanitarian efforts with children around the country. He is also a member of the New York State Baseball Hall of Fame, inducted in 2019. Ray spoke at the United Nations on the subject of alcoholism with his mentor, Adele Smithers. In 2007, the Department of Homeland Security honored Ray for his leadership in the Hispanic community and the impact he has made on American society.
Additionally, Ray is co-host on "Reach Out with Ray & Steve" talking sports, entertainment and community seen on Optimum cable and BronxNet. His writes a weekly column on Newsmax and NYC Tastemakers.
A powerful and inspirational speaker, he passionately shares his amazing journey, revealing his experiences with the Bronx Bombers, his special relationship with Steinbrenner and with so many of the incredible people he has crossed paths with.
Rich Kisielewski, a graduate of New York University and former NYU Pitcher, has spent thirty plus years in the insurance industry and currently works in a suburb of Philadelphia. An uprooted New Yorker - Queens, NY - he lives in Central Pennsylvania with his wife Liz who also is an uprooted New Yorker - da Bronx, NY - and their collection of dogs and cats. Their two children - Tara and Brian - have left the roost and live in Dallas and Philadelphia respectively
Job Titles:
- Head Coach, State University of New York at Old Westbury ( Skyline Conference, DIII )
Job Titles:
- ACBL Board President
- ACBL Commissioner
Tom Hopke began his business career in public accounting. He went on to become CFO of Xcor International, Inc and then was recruited by NewsCorporation for HarperCollins Publishers their book publishing company where he spent 28 years as SVP Administration until his retirement. He now heads up his own consulting company providing financial and strategic development services to sports and recreation companies including the MLBPA, Rising Stars Youth Foundation and the City of Glen Cove. He continues to assist authors in finding homes for their projects and remains active in several youth nonprofit organizations.
During his years at Harper he assisted in the acquisition of several sports and entertainment titles including biographies of Henry Aaron, Darryl Strawberry, Willie Randolph, Roberto Clemente, Tiger Woods, Yogi Berra, Lenny Dykstra, Greg Allman and Ray Negron's children's books.
He played his high school baseball at Archbishop Molloy HS in Queens, NY for legendary Coach Jack Curran before moving on to St. John's University and Coach Jack Kaiser. Tom teamed up with ACBL Board Member Rich Kisielewski to win 2 CHSAA City Championships at Molloy and both are members of the Stanners Hall of Fame. He was the founder and Managing Director of the New York Mets Baseball Academy along with Ike Goldstein and along with Coach Goldstein owner of the Long Island Tigers Baseball Club.